State Senate panel sets hearing on 7-day work week

MADISON (AP) - The state Senate's labor committee will take public comments this week on a Republican bill that would allow factory and retail employees to volunteer to work seven straight days without a day off.

The bill's authors, Sen. Glenn Grothman and Rep. Mark Born, say the proposal would bring Wisconsin in line with federal law, give workers a way to make more money and help employers boost production. Opponents counter employers will use the bill to pressure employees to work longer and erase their weekends.

The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the bill for Thursday in the state Capitol. Grothman is the committee's chairman.